Beauty is all around us. If you look, you'll see it.

Tag Archives: personal library

A few years ago we spent several weekends visiting homes with the view to buy. In between scheduled visits, we stopped in at a property that was way out of our league but we were killing time and thought we’d have a look. Stella was a very professional agent and she patiently showed us around the entire place, despite us clearly not being true prospects. She lead us through the six car garage, into the sauna and past the his and hers dressing rooms. I knew this wasn’t going to be our new house, but it was quite a treat to walk through a fantastic mansion and dream a little. All my sense and practicality evaporated when she ushered us into “The library”. It’s something I’ve always wanted to create in my home. A quiet retreat where I can curl up with a book, a lap dog, maybe a warm fire, some gentle music. Ahhhhhhh. We didn’t buy that house, but I can still remember the feeling of warmth it evoked and I still long to create my own space. Here are some beautiful home libraries to inspire you (and me!).

Courtesy: The Rusty Typewriter (www.therustytypewriter.com)

Courtesy: Lexis Interiors (www.lexisint.com/proj01d.html)

Mark Twain's house library (www.architecture.about.com)

Here’s a neat little window seat to perch on, I love the lighting in this picture below.

The two-tier, walnut-paneled library at Biltmore House (below) contains some 10,000 volumes and a fireplace surrounded by a carved, black-marble mantel. On the second floor of the library, there is a secret door that George Vanderbilt used to come down directly from his bedroom to locate or return a book.

Biltmore House, North Carolina USA. (www.honeymoons.about.com)

Photo: Neville Johnson (www.nevillejohnson.co.uk)

Photo: Neville Johnsons - Grand Library (www.nevillejohnson.co.uk)

Photo: Neville Johnson (www.nevillejohnson.co.uk)

Jay Walker is the founder of the Priceline company and lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut USA. His personal library (picture below) occupies 3600 square feet (330 m2) and features books, atlases, artifacts and models of space exploration, cryptography and James Bond films.